San Diego’s Medical Marijuana Inc. has expanded its hemp-derived line of cannabidiol products — similar to marijuana but lacking the high-producing THC component — with the acquisition of Dixie Botanicals in April, and last week began selling the Dixie brand from its new headquarters in Poway.

A California appellate court has ruled that perceived whistleblowers have the same protections from retaliation as employees who actually make complaints about illegal conduct, in a case headed back to San Diego Superior Court later this month.

San Diego police will get a package of new benefits and a gradual 6.6 percent pay increase over the next five years, under a tentative agreement reached Friday between Mayor Kevin Faulconer and the San Diego Police Officers Association.